The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-05

LONDON Daglndu, OHe OF JHe passengers |
robbed, warrant was granted for the an |
prehension of Major Brabazon, in conse- |
quence of which the Major had that very
morning been arrested just as he was leay-
ing his home to go and pay morning visit
to his lady-love, the fair Widow Thomson:
the bad news naturally fell like thunder.
bolt on the town, and set every body wild
with excitement, as well it might, for there
was not soul in the place, and for miles
round as well, who did not know and like
the Major and his white-faced mare The
Major turn highwayman and rob the mail,
just as he was going to be married, too
Why, the idea was perfectly ridiculous
At the inquiry before the Justices, Jacob
Shrub, who was called on the prisoners be-
half, proved that he assisted the Major.
who was very far gone in liquor, to bed in
deed, he found him on entering the sitting
room he and another gentleman had shared,
fast asleep, with his head in an empty
punch bowl and half-squeezed lemon be-
tween his teeth. He never saw him again
until the next morning, when he break
tasted, paid his reckoning and rode off as
any other gentleman might. AS for the
Major leaving the house in the dead of night
and getting in again without some of the in
mates knowing of it, why itwould be simply
impossble-at least in his humble opinion
This was all the evidence on the Majors
side.
On the other hand, Mr.. Timothy Trap
swore positively to Cicely, the Majors
mare, and declared his firm belief-though
he declined actually to swear toit-that the
Major was the man who robbed him. HeI
could not see his features for the mask tAat,
covered them, but the figure was as like the
Majors build as was possible.
The witnesses cross-examination by the
Majors counsel only made matters worse;
for being asked how he came to know the
Major and his mare so well, he replied that
in his capacity Of traveller for Linsey &
Son, of the Golden Fleece, Cheapside, he
was constantly at Pumberton, and in conse-
quence was well acquainted by sight with
both bpod and quadruped. Cross-eyed
Dick, the hostler of the Wheatsheaf, was
finally called Gt was noticed that this wit
ness gave his evidence very willingly He
declared that when he awoke, soon after
daybreak, he visited the stable where
Cicely was, the mare showed decided signs
of having been out in the night since he had
fed and bedded her down. She was splashed
all over with mud and looked very much
distressed. Asked if he mentioned the
circumstance to the Major or any body else,
he replied he did not, because, in the first
instance, he was afraid of the Major and in
the second thought it was no business of
his.
The trial of Major George Brabazon, late
of His Majesty's -th Regiment of Foot, is
over, and the prisoner has been found guilty
and sentenced to death. A petition, signed
by nearly every one in the county-high
and low-had been sent up to His Majesty
in London, but to no purpose. Too many
gentlemen of late had taken to the road, and
an example was needed. Therewas no help
for it. Every thing that could DC done had
been done, and there was nothing more to
do now but to wait for the end. The only
cheerful person concerned, oddly enough
was the Major himself. "a man can die
but once" said he. ''But l should have
liked to have had one more gallop on my
dear old Cicely before / came to an end
However, it can't be helped! l am quite
innocent of it all, that's one consolation, and
think you may take my word for it that
George Brabazon will die game'"
The execution was fixed to take place on
the Monday following the trial, on gallows
erected on Hangman's Heath, close to the
scene of the outrage. The preceding Sun
day was a sad one, you may depend, to the
inhabitants of Plumperton. Sermons were
preached abiding to the sad event in all the
churches, and people spoke with bated
breath of the tragedy that was to be enacted
on the morrow.
The tide was to turn, though in most
unexpected manner. At nine o'clock at
night, when the streets were still full of
loiterers, horseman came Gathering
through the town, whose disordered attire
and the jaded appearance of his steed de-
noted that he had come from distance
Pulling up at the first group of loiterers he
came to, he eagerly inquired the nearest
way to the jail
1--WE free pardon for Major Brabazon,
who was left for execution on the morrow,
in my pocket said he, land | must give it
into the Governors hands at once.n
Fifty willing guides were found at once
to show the messenger the way to the
prison. Meanwhile the good news spread
like wildfire The town went mad with de-
light The women shed tears of JOY, the
men shouted and yelled until they were
hoarse. A mob that soon mustered some
thousands rushed off to the Jail and cheered
until the Governor of the prison made his
appearance and addressed the crowd.
1t was all true, he said. The Major was
an innocent man. A prisoner lying in New
gate under sentence of death had confessed
that he was the stranger who had dined
with the Major at the Wheatsheaf on the
night Of the robbery; that with the aid of
Cross-eyed Dick, the hostler, he had alb
stracted the Majors mare for the occasion,
"a portion of the mob rushed off at this
point in search of Cros-eyed Dick, on whom
they vowed summary vengeance), had rid
den forth, robbed the mail, restored the
mare to her stable, and taken his departure
on his own horse before the Major was up.
THAT'S the story, boys" said the Gov
ernor. ''Now go away, and como here to-
morrow morning at eleven o'clock and fetch
your friend Major George away. Come in
your thousands, if you like" added he,
laughing.
''Three cheers for the Major. Ay, three
times three! And three for the Governor. -
The mob cheered them BOTH and the marc
and the Widow Thomson, until they were
hoarse-also thirsty. They they went away.
Bells pealing, people shouting, every
body in his best clothes, and all assembled
in front of Plumperton jail to greet the
Major on his return from captivity. A little
space is kept clear close to the prison gates,
in which space a carriage and four is drawn